Brush adjusting means for carpet sweepers



Dec. 15, 1931. E. R. SMITH 1,836,512

BRUSH ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Fil d A il 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l QQIQ R INVENTORI N Q EARZEE. SM/TH A TTORNE YS.

Dec. 15, 1931. E. R. SMITH BRUSH ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Filed April 15, 1930 2 Sheets-$heet INVENTOR. Ekem E. 5mm

MPQ

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EARLE B. SMITH, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA BRUSH ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CARPET swnnrnns Application filed April 15,

My invention relates to carpet sweepers of the character embodied in my co-pending ap plication Serial No. 170,213, filed February 23, 1927.

5, It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a. carpet sweeper having means by which the rotary brush thereof can be vertically adjusted so as to render the sweeper highly efiicient in the sweeping of rugs and carpets of various thicknesses.

I will describe only one form of brush adjusting means for carpet sweepers embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in bottom plan one form of carpet sweeper embodying my invention.

' Fig. 2 is a view showing the carpet sweeper, in end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a body or casing B havinga top wall 15, side walls 16, and end walls 17. Arranged at the ends of the body B and in spaced relation to the end walls 17 are plates P having end extensions 18 bent at right angles and secured to the side walls 16, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Each plate P is provided medially of its ends with an arcuate slot 19 below which is a vertically-elongated slot 20. Beneath the slot 20 and between this slot and the slot 19 the plate P is inwardly bent to form recesses or grooves 21 and 22, respectively, for the reception of the fixed part of a hanger.

Associated with each plate P is a hanger H, and each hanger comprises a fixed part It and a movable part h. The fixed part it comprises a. strip of metal arranged vertically and disposed within the recesses 21 and 22, its upper end being ofi'set and extended through the arcuate slot 19 where it is secured to the plate P, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The movable part It comprises a head 23 of rectangular outline and provided with a slot 24 through which the fixed part It extends. This slot 24 is formed by cutting and instrikof openings 29 in the fixed part it and for the 1930. Serial No. 444,502.

ing the central portion 23' of the head, and the fixed part extends through the slot so that the instruck portion is disposed at the rear side thereof. In this manner the mov- I able part it" is mounted on the fixed part to move vertically thereon and for the purpose of permitting a vertical adjustment of the movable part on the fixed part. In addition, the movable part includes a strip 25 in the'form of an extension of the head 23,and this stripis bent outwardly at its upper end to form a handle 26 adapted to be gripped in effecting adjustment of the movable part on the fixed part. The slot 20 is formed to accommodate the instruck portion 23 of the head 23 so that vertical ad just-ment of the head is unrestricted. The strip 25 carries a pin 28' which is adapted to engage within any one of a vcrticalseries v purpose of releasably securing the movable part'in vertically' adjusted position on the fixed part. The movable part is formed'of a resilient metal, in order that the strip 25 can be flexed outwardly to disengage the pin 28 from any one of the openings 29, and when once released the strip will return to its normal position in which the pin 28 re poses in one of the openings 29.

As a visible indication of the precise "adjustment of the movable part vertically on the fixed part, the head 23-is provided with a pointer 30, while within the'plate P is a T-shaped arrangement of the indentations 31. The vertical series of indentations are spaced to correspond with the spacing of the openings 29, while the horizontal series are disposed medially of the vertical series to indicate an intermediate or normal adjustment of the movable part h. i

As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and4, the head 23 carries a stub axle 32 and also a dust cap 33, the latter surrounding the stub axle. This stub axle 32 provides-a mounting for one end of a rotary brush R which extends through a vertical slot 32 in the end walls 17 and is formed with a recess 34 in which the stub axle is rotatab-ly received, and an annular groove 35 concentric ofthe recess and in which the dust cap 33.i.s freelyreceived. The brush shaft is provided with a wheel 36 which is interposed between a pair of driving wheels 37 on which the body B as a unit is supported for rolling movement, and these driving wheels have peripheral contact with the brush wheel 36 so that when they are rotated rotary movement will be imparted to the brush.

When considering the movable parts h of both of the hangers H, it should be apparent that through the medium of the stub axles they serve to rotatably support the brush R for rotary movement in the body B and consequently by adjusting the movable parts vertically on the fixed parts of the hangers, vertical adjustment of the brush R can be effected. It will be understood that the two movable parts h are adapted to be a'diusted simultaneously by flexing the two strips 25 outwardly to release the pins from the openings whence. the movable parts can he slid upwardly or downwardly on the fixed parts until the proper adiustment is secured, and once secured the strips are released to permit the pins to seat within the openings and to thereby maintain such adiustm-ent. In this manner the rotary brush can be moved to any elevation within the sweeper bodv to accommodate carpets or rugs of various thicknesses and in order that the brush may have proper rotarv movement under actuation of the sweeper to effectively brush the carpet or rug. Such adjustment also compensates for wear of the brush bristles so that the brush. although worn. can be readusted to render its brushing action effective.

,Although I have herein shown and described only one form of brush adjusting means for carpet sweepers embod ing my invention, it is to be understood that various chan Ice and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carpet sweeper comprising a body. a pair of plates secured to the bodv and each having a pair of slots positioned one above the other. a recess between each pair of slots and beneath the lower slot, a hanger on each plate comprising a vertical strip secured at its upper end to the inner side of the plate extending through the upper slot to the outer side of the plate and disposed in said recesses, a head having an instruck. portion to provide a slot through which said strip extends, a strip extension on the head of resilient meta-l, coacting means on the strip and strip extension for latching the extension and head in vertically adjusted position on the strip and under the resilient action of the strip extension, a. stub axle carried by the head, and a rotary brush mounted on the two stub axles of the hangers. V c

2. A carpet sweeper as embodied in claim 1 wherein the means for latching the strip extension vertically on the strip comprises a pin carried by the strip extension and openings in the strip in any one of which the pin is adapted to engage. I

EARLE B. SMITH. 

